Michigan football game-by-game picks, postseason prediction for 2026 season
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Michigan football finished 2025 at 9-4 after a loss in the Citrus Bowl to Texas. While it looked like Sherrone Moore would continue as head coach, he was dismissed following an internal investigation into an inappropriate relationship with a staffer. This has led to a new era for Michigan football, led by former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. Whittingham expects to make a run to the College Football Playoff in his first year, but they have a difficult path in front of them.
Michigan is 20th in the nation in returning production, and sixth in offensive returning production. Michigan brings back Bryce Underwood at quarterback, looking to improve from his freshman campaign. Meanwhile, Jordan Marshall returns in the backfield behind four returning offensive line starters and six total linemen who made at least one start in 2025.
The defense does lose a good amount in the front seven of the defense, with Rayshaun Benny, Derrick Moore, and Jaishawn Barham all moving on. Regardless, Jyaire Hill and Zeke Berry return in the second for the Wolverines. As Michigan looks to return to the playoffs for the first time since winning the title in 2023, they have to move through a gauntlet in the Big Ten. It is a schedule that provides a high ceiling with double-digit wins, but could also be an abject disaster.
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It is time to predict every game on Michigan’s 2026 schedule.
Week 1- Western Michigan (September 5): Win
Michigan opens up the Whittingham Era at home against an in-state foe. The two schools originally thought of playing this game in Germany, but that was tabled, and the Broncos will visit the Wolverines in Ann Arbor. Western Michigan is the favorite in the MAC and has MAC offensive player of the year Broc Lowry returning along with thousand-yard rusher Jalen Buckley. That should give the Michigan defense some nice work in what is a warm-up game for them. Do not expect the upset here as Michigan takes the win.
Record: 1-0
Week 2- Oklahoma (September 12): Win
Last year, these two teams faced off in Norman, but now, it is in Ann Arbor. It was just the second game of his career for Bryce Underwood, but with a season of experience, he will be better. Michigan also did a solid job against John Mateer last year. They did struggle with him on the ground, allowing him to score twice while running for 74 yards, but the Kyle Whittingham defense will be prepared for that this time around. Homefield advantage ends up being the difference in this game, as Oklahoma takes its first loss of the year.
Record: 2-0
Week 3- UTEP (September 19): Win
It is the final non-conference game of the year before the Big Ten gauntlet starts. UTEP is moving to the Mountain West this year, and has expectations for a three- to four-win season. They have had to completely reload the skill positions on offense, including bringing in FCS transfers from Northern Colorado and Eastern Kentucky. The defense is replacing a ton of their production, and UTEP expects to struggle this year. Michigan’s backups should get some work in this one.
Record: 3-0
Week 4- Iowa (September 26): Win
Iowa showed some signs of life on the offense in 2025, but much of that was due to Mark Gronowski. He is gone, and Tim Lester needs to find a new quarterback. It could be Hank Brown or transfer Jeremy Hecklinski, but this will still be a run-first offense. The defense once again has a stud at linebacker, with Cam Buffington poised to break out. Still, the battle in the trenches will go the way of the Wolverines. Michigan is also one of the few offensive lines that can contend in playing bully-ball with Iowa, and they get a fourth straight win.
Record: 4-0
Week 5- at Minnesota (October 3): Win
Michigan hits the road for the first time in 2026, facing Minnesota for the 107th time. Michigan has won five straight in this rivalry, and Minnesota has not won since 2014. Michigan has not lost on the road against Minnesota since 1977, and has won 17 straight on the road against their rival. Minnesota and PJ Fleck will be looking for the upset in this one, and Fleck’s defensive units are normally well coached. That will not be enough in this one.
Record: 5-0
Week 6- Open Week (October 10)
Week six provided a much-needed open week before games against Penn State and Indiana.
Record: 5-0
Week 7- Penn State (October 17): Win
Michigan is coming off a bye, and this is homecoming. It is a perfect trap game for Michigan, but Kyle Whittingham has been stellar in his career in preparing his teams for these types of games. This will be a major test for Matt Campbell and Rocco Becht. There is concern that Becht can’t translate his game into the Big Ten, and this will be his major test. Penn State will have a solid offensive line that protects Becht well, but reading a Big Ten defense may be an issue. Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions may not be ready yet to face the running game of Michigan. The Wolverines move to 6-0.
Record: 6-0
Week 8- Indiana (October 24): Win
Indiana will be on a 23-game win streak heading into this game. The week before this, they will host Ohio State, and that will be a brutal and hard-fought game. Since the 2000 season, only seven teams have reached 23 games. Many of the streaks have ended in major games. Such as Miami losing in the Fiesta Bowl in 2002 to Ohio State, or USC falling to Texas in the Rose Bowl in 2005. Others ended against conference foes, and that will be the case in this one. It is a perfect let-down spot for Indiana. With Indiana already 7-0 heading into the game, and three easier games in the next four, an 11-1 season seems on point for Indiana. Here is the one loss.
Record: 7-0
Week 9- at Rutgers (October 31): Win
It is a Halloween game for Michigan, and could be scary if they cannot avoid a trap game here. The Wolverines will be coming off games against Penn State and Indiana, which could lead to them checking out in this game before facing Michigan State. Michigan will need to be precise on offense to get the win here. Greg Schiano consistently has tough-nosed defensive units that minimize mistakes. At this point, Michigan will be battle-tested. The offense should be in a groove, and that is enough to get a win.
Record: 8-0
Week 10- Michigan State (November 7): Win
This is the 119th meeting between the two schools, playing for the Paul Bunyan Trophy. Michigan has won four straight in the series, after falling last in 2021. It is a new era for Michigan State, as Pat Fitzgerald has taken over the program. Depth is going to be a key in this game, coming in as an early November Big Ten battle. With late-season attrition, Michigan will have the advantage with a much deeper roster. Michigan has the much better offensive and defensive line. By this point, Savion Hiter should have broken out for the Wolverines, and gets them a ninth straight win to open the year.
Record: 9-0
Week 11- at Oregon (November 14): Loss
It is a mid-November fixture at the Autzen Zoo. Playing at Oregon is always hard, but this may be the biggest game of the season for both teams to date. Oregon will be coming off a road game against Ohio State, and could be sitting at 9-0 as well. The winner of this game is likely heading to the Big Ten championship if both teams are 9-0. Dante Moore is the difference in this game, though. He has command of the high-powered and quick-paced offense that will wear down Michigan. The Wolverines will have to build long drives on the ground to win this game, but they do not have the depth.
Record: 9-1
Week 12- UCLA (November 21): Win
Michigan can either fold or continue to fight in the Big Ten. At this point, according to these projections, Oregon is still undefeated, while Indiana has one loss, and Ohio State has two. That means Michigan still controls its fate in the conference. UCLA has to travel to Michigan late in November, which is not going to be easy for the Bruins. This should be another game that is decided in the trenches, and Michigan will be dominant there.
Record: 10-1
Week 13- at Ohio State (November 28): Loss
Michigan may come into this game as the favorite, and they should thank Ohio State for that. Ohio State faces Indiana in Week 7 in Bloomington. That will be a hard-fought game, and Ohio State could lose. Meanwhile, Ohio State also has a game against Oregon. It is conceivable that Michigan comes in with one loss and Ohio State comes in with two. Still, this is in Columbus, which should make a difference. Ohio State has not won at home against Michigan since 2018. That was a matchup of top ten teams, and Ohio State won the game 62-39. With Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith, they take the win, giving Michigan their second loss of the year.
Record: 10-2
Michigan Football Postseason Prediction: College Football Playoffs
With two losses in conference play, Michigan does not make it to the Big Ten Title game. They had a chance in the final weekend of the season to punch their ticket, but with the loss to Ohio State, Oregon and Indiana will be advancing to the Big Ten conference championship. This does not leave out Michigan. With just two losses, one to Oregon and the other to Ohio State, they will slip into the playoffs.
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